Emotion

Question 1

What is an emotion?

Answer 1

A relatively brief episode of synchronized physiological, behavioral, and subjective responses

Question 2

What are the three aspects of emotions: “feelings,” autonomic responses, and somatic responses?

Answer 2

Autonomic response
- Sympathetic activation, hormonal (physiological component)
“Feelings”
- Introspection (subjective reaction)
Somatic responses
- Behavioral tendency to approach or avoid something, facial expressions (behavioral response)

Question 3

What are the functions of emotions

Answer 3

Regulate arousal
Direct perception and attention
Influence learning and memory
Motivate behavior
Communicate with others

Question 4

What is the evolutionary view of emotion as originally proposed by Darwin?

Answer 4

Emotions help us survive and thrive and promote survival of our species
Emotions allow us to adapt to different situations and keep us safe from danger
Many emotional responses seem to be instinctive and universal rather than learned and culture-specific

Question 5

Why are facial expressions important?

Answer 5

Facial expressions communicate immediate information about how we are doing

Question 6

What are Ekman’s six (or seven) basic emotions?

Answer 6

1.Happiness
2.Sadness
3.Anger
4.Fear
5.Disgust
6.Surprise
7.Contempt

Question 7

What was Paul Ekmans Research on the Universal Emotions

Answer 7

Showed pictures of emotional expressions to individuals from a variety of cultural groups
Showed that 7 emotions were indeed universal

Question 8

What evidence suggests that the 7 emotions are innate

Answer 8

they are universal

Question 9

What are display rules?

Answer 9

Cultural rules that govern the expression of emotion
Often obeyed without awareness
Dictate the facial expressions considered appropriate in particular contexts

Question 10

What is the discrete approach to emotions?

Answer 10

An approach to analyzing emotions that focuses on specific emotions such as anger, fear and pride
Treats each emotion as categorically distinct from others
Examines both primary and secondary emotions
One emotion at a time

Question 11

What is the dimensional approach to emotions?

Answer 11

An approach to analyzing emotions that focuses on dimensions such as pleasantness and activation
How pleasant or unpleasant the emotion feels
How activated (or aroused) the person feels when in the midst of the emotion
Emotions on a continuum

Question 12

What are the three main contributors to happiness?

Answer 12

Intentional activities (40%)

Life circumstances (10%)

Genetic set point (50%)